Air con failed

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

My climatronic failed a couple of years ago, and I want to get it fixed this year - it's more than likely down to a leak as it was serviced and filled and worked properly on the way back home from the dealer, but wouldn't blow cold air the next day.

We don't really need cooling at the rear of the van as only 2 of us travelling now, so thought it may be easier to fix if the rear supply pipe was capped, and we just focus on fixing it at the front of the van (if this is where the leak is). Does anyone know if this is possble or have any points of view.

Thanks.

 

[WelshGas]

My climatronic failed a couple of years ago, and I want to get it fixed this year - it's more than likely down to a leak as it was serviced and filled and worked properly on the way back home from the dealer, but wouldn't blow cold air the next day.

We don't really need cooling at the rear of the van as only 2 of us travelling now, so thought it may be easier to fix if the rear supply pipe was capped, and we just focus on fixing it at the front of the van (if this is where the leak is). Does anyone know if this is possble or have any points of view.

Thanks.

Physically yes, just cap the pipes ideally in the engine bay BUT due to the number of sensors etc: controlling the system you may get Errors which will shut down the dashboard/cabin part of the system.
If you remove the underbody plastic covers and the trim panel on the Rear R side to uncover the rear AirCon mechanicals and then get a Leak test performed you should be able to track down a leak. They use a special dye in the charge which shows up under UV light I believe.

Having said that a Leak test would normally be performed when recharging the system, because they should extract the existing charge and if below a certain % carry out a leak test before recharging with refrigerant. Are you sure the airCon compressor is working? There is a special coupling " Gates Coupling " that can fail disabling the compressor.

Some reading.

Brake or Aircon fliud leak by rear wheel?

Hi I noticed some spots of oil/brake fluid on my drive just in front of the rear offside wheel and looks like there is a wet silver pipe that's dripping on the suspension arm as in the pictures, any idea what this pipe is or where else it could come from above that point? 2010 SE 4Motion 97k...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

Thanks WG. Some good pointers there. I need to identify someone who knows Transporters with the Dual CC, and get it properly checked out.

 

[vbk1975]

Thanks WG. Some good pointers there. I need to identify someone who knows Transporters with the Dual CC, and get it properly checked out.

Our Air con failed with pressure loss, the dealer failed to find the issue after 3 visits.

I bought a UV Torch from Amazon for £10 as most AC systems end up with UV tracer dye in them either from the factory or after a re-gas. (You can check if dye is in the system by taking off one of the plastic caps on the regas points in the engine bay and shining the uv torch in, it will glow a sort of greeny-white)

Any UV torch will do, but this was the one i bought:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WJJY1ZP/?tag=eliteelect-21

I went out one night and checked engine bay and around the van with the UV torch, the rear wheel arch lit up, it has dye traces all over the mud flap and arch liner. It turns out ours had a tiny hole behind one of the various twin pipe clips, you could not see the hole, but you could see the dye trace coming from behind the clips, I swapped out both the rear pipes (split halfway under the van), I probably could have coped with one, but at £130 a re-gas (our uses the latest R1234yf gas, hence more expensive), I decided to just swap both.

A

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

Thanks for your response A. Definitely worth a punt at £10. I wonder whether the tracer dye would still be in the system after 2 years though.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for your response A. Definitely worth a punt at £10. I wonder whether the tracer dye would still be in the system after 2 years though.

Do you know it is a leak?
Does the AirCon compressor turn when the engine is running?

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

Hi WG - daft question time. When you say is it turning do you mean check if I can see it physically rotating somewhere under the bonnet? Or do you mean something I can listen for?

Thanks.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi WG - daft question time. When you say is it turning do you mean check if I can see it physically rotating somewhere under the bonnet? Or do you mean something I can listen for?

Thanks.

Start engine with AC OFF.
On idle - switch on AC. the idling speed should drop initially and then return to normal or a little higher as the compressor puts a load on the engine.
I think the actual compressor is on the rear of the engine - drivers side. Viewed more easily from below.

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

Hi WG - tried it today a few times, and absolutely no discernable drop in idling speed when AC is switched on. I guess it could be the compressor then - sticking compressor clutch maybe/hopefully. I really do need to get it to an aircon technician to get it properly evaluated. Thanks for your input.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi WG - tried it today a few times, and absolutely no discernable drop in idling speed when AC is switched on. I guess it could be the compressor then - sticking compressor clutch maybe/hopefully. I really do need to get it to an aircon technician to get it properly evaluated. Thanks for your input.

VW will just swap the compressor for new, but an AirCon specialist may be able to get it refurbished.